Releasable Coupling Mailing Bag for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers, such as mailing bags, are often designed for single use and contribute to increased distribution and environmental costs due to their size and shape, which can hinder automated handling and require additional containers for manual transport, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A container with a sheet comprising a polymeric composition of thermoplastic polymer, where a handle is formed by cutting the sheet and releasably coupled to another part using a barrier layer of tributyl acetylcitrate, allowing the container to change configuration from coupled to uncoupled, reducing size and volume for efficient handling and eliminating the need for additional bags during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the container is made with a fixed size and shape to provide protection and security, then the container can protect contents from environment and theft, but the container increases distribution costs and requires additional containers for manual transport
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into separate parts that can be coupled together to form a complete container when needed, and separated for compact storage and transport. The parts can be individually stored in a collapsed state and assembled at the destination, reducing distribution costs and eliminating the need for additional carrier bags.
Solution Approach 2:
The container transitions from a static, fixed-size design to a dynamic structure that can change its configuration. The container parts can be coupled to form a rigid protective structure when contents need protection, and uncoupled to collapse into a compact form for efficient storage and manual carrying.
2Extent of automation
If the container is designed with standardized size for automated handling, then automated conveyor systems can operate efficiently, but the container may intrude into neighbouring cells and reduce throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The container parts can be nested within each other when in a collapsed state, allowing them to fit precisely into standardized conveyor cells without intruding into neighbouring cells. This nesting capability enables efficient automated handling while maintaining system throughput by ensuring each container occupies only its designated space.
3Ease of manufacture
If the container is designed for single use to reduce manufacturing complexity, then the container can be produced cost-effectively, but the container increases environmental costs and waste
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding the entire container after single use, the design allows for selective recovery and reuse of the container parts. The parts can be separated from disposable elements (such as adhesive seals) and reused for subsequent containers, reducing material waste and environmental impact while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular design.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the container is made larger to accommodate different sizes and shapes of contents, then the container can facilitate handling of various items, but the container increases distribution costs and requires additional containers for manual transport
Solution Approach 1:
The container is segmented into modular parts that can be coupled together in different configurations to accommodate various sizes and shapes of contents. When contents need to be transported, the parts can be assembled to form an appropriately sized container. For manual transport, the parts can be collapsed and carried in a compact state or even held together by a customer using a single hand, eliminating the need for additional carrier bags.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces distribution and environmental costs by enabling compact automated handling and manual carrying without additional containers, while maintaining the integrity of the container during uncoupling and preventing adhesive residue issues.
Implementation Method 1
providing a barrier layer between the first surface of the first part of the sheet and the first surface of the second part of the sheet and melting the thermoplastic
Data Source
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AI summary
A container (1), such as a mailing bag, is provided. The container (1) comprises a sheet (10), the sheet having opposed first (11) and second (12) surfaces. A first part (110) of the sheet (10) comprises a handle (200). The first part (110) of the sheet (10) is releasably coupled to a second part (120) of the sheet (10). In this way, a size and/or shape of the container (1) may be reduced for transportation and/or storage, for example, facilitating automated handling and/or reducing costs. The first part (110) of the sheet (10) comprising the handle (200) may be uncoupled from the second part (120) of the sheet (10) by a user, facilitating manual handling and/or reducing costs.